Know your numbers, Musa tells Hisham
The former top cop hits out at the home minister for undermining the crime index.
G Vinod, FMT
Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan criticised Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for undermining crime statistics recently.
Speaking to FMT, Musa said that everyone needs some sort of statistics for research and studies for future improvements.
“How can he [Hishammuddin] say statistics are not important? The police allocate a lot of money and manpower to compile crime statistics.
“Hishammuddin should know what he is doing,” he said.
Last month, The Malaysian Insider quoted Hishammuddin as saying that the crime index is not important as the numbers can be disputed and belittled as has been seen in the run-up to the coming general election.
He also said that the government was committed to battling crime and the people are feeling safer on the streets now.
Musa said that not only the police collect statistics, but all other government departments do as well.
“Even to gauge the progress of a nation’s economy, we need statistics. The whole world needs data.
“If statistics are not important, why do we need the Statistics Department?” he asked.
Nonsensical comments
MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan agreed with Musa, saying the government should consider closing down the Statistics Department, going by Hishammuddin’s logic.
He urged Hishammuddin to understand his role better and not just give nonsensical comments.
“He should stop acting like he is the inspector-general of police,” said Sanjeevan.
